MAD MAX remake without Mel Gibson, there’s a shock!

// October 30th, 2009 // What's Poppin

Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are in negotiations to star in “Fury Road,” this century’s installment of the “Mad Max” movie series from writer-director George Miller.

Miller is producing with Doug Mitchell.

Despite his long association with the fourth movie, Mel Gibson is not reprising his iconic role of Max Rockatansky, the hardened ex-cop in a future beset by gas shortages and marauding gangs.

That job goes to Hardy, the British-born actor who stole scenes as Handsome Bob in Guy Ritchie’s “RocknRolla.” (”RocknRolla” has proved to be a launch pad for Hardy, who booked a gig in Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” as well. He also starred in “Bronson.”)

Theron is playing the female lead.

While story details are being kept under wraps, the movie does take place a short while after the story detailed in 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” which keeps Mad Max relatively young.